ruth risdon storer garden– valley- a · pdf filethe formal white flower garden was ......

Ruth Risdon StorerGarden–

Garden

Valley-A

Wise

Ellen Zagory

Sign made possible by a grant from the Elvenia J. Slosson Foundation

UCDAVIS

RBORETUM

How do Iselect mulch?

How often should I mulch?

How much mulch do I need?

UCDAVIS

RBORETUM

Mulch protects the soil and improves the appearance of the home garden.

Mulch reduces•weeds by blocking sunlight

that weed seeds need to grow

•water needs by protecting soilfrom losing water to evaporationand run-off

• fertilizer needs by breakingdown and adding its ownnutrients to the soil

• soil compaction by cushioningthe soil below

Mulch improves•appearance by covering bare

ground and reducing weeds

•drainage over time by breakingdown and improving soilstructure

•soil health by adding nutrientsto the soil as it breaks down

•plant health by improving soiland growing conditions

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mia

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dman

What is mulch?Mulch is a protective covering

spread on the ground aroundplants. It improves the health ofyour garden.

The Arboretum uses medium,shredded fir bark mulch becauseit is attractive, durable and natural-looking. Notice thismulch around you in the Valley-Wise Garden.

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Arboretum volunteers mulching

Mulched home garden

arboretum.ucdavis.eduSign made possible by grants from the Elvenia J. Slosson Foundation and the UC Davis Office of Administration

Ruth Risdon Storer Garden–A Valley-Wise Garden

Mulch protects the soil and improves the appearance of the home garden.

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How do I select mulch?Choose:• fine or medium-sized mulch

• pieces less than 2” long

Popular kinds of mulches include:• Shredded bark or wood

• Nut shells

• Pine needles or other tree leaves

How much mulch do I need?Small plants2” deep

Large plants, trees4” deep

Pathways and bare ground4” deep

If you spread mulch too thinly, you lose its benefits.

How often should I mulch?Apply mulch at least once a year or as needed tomaintain an optimum depth of 2-4”.

Mulched home garden

Mulch reduces•weeds by blocking sunlight

that weed seeds need to grow

•water needs by protecting soilfrom losing water to evaporationand run-off

• fertilizer needs by breakingdown and adding its ownnutrients to the soil

• soil compaction by cushioningthe soil below

Mulch improves•appearance by covering bare

ground and reducing weeds

•drainage over time by breakingdown and improving soilstructure

•soil health by adding nutrientsto the soil as it breaks down

•plant health by improving soiland growing conditions

UCDAVIS

RBORETUM

What is mulch?Mulch is a protective covering

spread on the ground aroundplants. It improves the health ofyour garden.

The Arboretum uses medium,shredded fir bark mulch becauseit is attractive, durable and natural-looking. Notice thismulch around you in the Valley-Wise Garden.

Bets

y Fa

ber

Arboretum volunteers mulching



Mulch_9x6_inside 4/20/07 1:56 PM Page 1

Who was Ruth Risdon Storer?Dr. Ruth Risdon Storer was Yolo

County’s first pediatrician and an avid gardener. She shared many of the plantshere with the Arboretum and helped tofund this garden. First planted in 1980, thisdemonstration garden was inspired byStorer’s own home garden. Like her garden,it has year-round color, beauty and requireslittle maintenance.

Arboretum staff test new plants here for use in Valley-Wise gardens. Explore this garden

for Arboretum All-Stars—our top recommended plants.

WELCOME TO THE

Ruth Risdon StorerGarden–A Valley-WiseGarden


Ruth Risdon Storer

How can I save money?

How can I live in a more beautiful,

healthy environment?

How can I have more free time?

Ellen Zagory Valley-Wise Garden

Dr. Ruth’sPrescription for

Valley-Wise Gardening

Name

Date

Address

Diagnosis

RefillLabelDispense as Written

R

Home Gardeners

Anytime

Central Valley of California

Hot, dry summers; cold, wet winters; and heavy soils

Visit the Valley-Wise Garden year-round to see seasonal beauty

Learn to use Valley-Wise gardening practicesTransform your home garden into a Valley-Wise landscape

XX

SeasonallyValley-Wise Garden

UCDAVIS

RBORETUMValley-Wise gardening uses plants and practices suited to Central Valley conditions

Bob

Mar

kson

Ellen Zagory Valley-Wise Garden

Dr. Ruth’sPrescription for

Valley-Wise Gardening

Name

Date

Address

Diagnosis

RefillLabelDispense as Written

R

Home Gardeners

Anytime

Central Valley of California

Hot, dry summers; cold, wet winters; and heavy soils

Visit the Valley-Wise Garden year-round to see seasonal beauty

Learn to use Valley-Wise gardening practicesTransform your home garden into a Valley-Wise landscape

XX

SeasonallyValley-Wise Garden

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Valley-Wise Gardeners• choose low-water-use plants and

have lower water bills

• spend less on chemical fertilizersand pesticides

• use long-lived plants that don’tneed regular replacement

Valley-Wise Gardeners• provide food and shelter for

butterflies and birds to create a healthier ecosystem

• conserve valuable water resources

• cause less chemical pollution

• have colorful gardens that buzzwith life

Valley-Wise Gardeners• spend less time on garden

maintenance

• spend less time replacingplants

• have less lawn to mow

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Who was Ruth Risdon Storer?Dr. Ruth Risdon Storer was Yolo

County’s first pediatrician and an avid gardener. She shared many of the plantshere with the Arboretum and helped tofund this garden. First planted in 1980, thisdemonstration garden was inspired byStorer’s own home garden. Like her garden,it has year-round color, beauty and requireslittle maintenance.

Arboretum staff test new plants here for use in Valley-Wise gardens. Explore this garden

for Arboretum All-Stars—our top recommended plants.

WELCOME TO THE

Ruth Risdon StorerGarden–A Valley-WiseGarden


Ruth Risdon Storer

UCDAVIS

RBORETUMValley-Wise gardening uses plants and practices suited to Central Valley conditions

Bob

Mar

kson

AskDrRuth_9x6inside 4/20/07 1:40 PM Page 1



ARE APHIDS

By growing buddy, orcompanion, plants aroundyour roses, you can attractbeneficial insects that eataphids and other pests. . .without using chemicals!

Instead of using pesticides, try the “buddy system”.

Without Buddy Plants With Buddy Plants

We eat aphids!Buddy, or companion, plantsprovide food and/or shelterto adult beneficial insects,encouraging them to laytheir eggs near roses.Hungry larvae then hatchand help control aphids andother pests by eating them.

LacewingLarva eats aphids andsmall caterpillars.

Adult eats nectarand pollen.

Ladybird BeetleLarva eats aphids, scalesand mites.

Adult eats aphids,scales and mites.

Larva eats aphids, thripsand mites.

Adult eats nectarand pollen.

Syrphid Fly

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Rose bush without buddy plants

Rose bush with buddy plants

Aphid-infested rose Healthy, aphid-free rose

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UCDAVIS

RBORETUM

AM I

No. I am a low-maintenance rose because I am disease resistant.

When you buy roses, look onthe label to see if they’re diseaseresistant. This will save youtime, money and effort in yourValley-Wise garden. Notice the Class Act rose in front of you.

It is resistant to common fungal diseasesand thrives in the Valley-Wise Gardenwithout the use of pesticides.

High Maintenance• Roses without disease resistance are

prone to unsightly fungal diseases• In order to look their best, these roses

may require high levels of care and fungicide applications

Common Fungal Problems in Roses

UCDAVIS

RBORETUM

Low Maintenance• Roses with disease resistance are easier to

care for because they are less likely to getfungal diseases

• These roses are beautiful without needingfungicide

Choose Low-Maintenance Roses

Rust Black spot Powdery mildew Rosa ‘Perle d’Or’ Rosa x odoratus ‘Mutabilis’ Rosa ‘Gruss an Aachen’Arboretum All-Star ratS-llA muterobrAratS-llA muterobrA

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Ellen Zagory

arboretum.ucdavis.eduSign made possible by a grant from the Elvenia J. Slosson Foundation


Who was Carolee Shields?Carolee Shields was the wife of Judge Peter

J. Shields, an early champion of the founding ofUC Davis. She is credited with starting thelong-standing campus tradition of Picnic Dayby hosting the first event in 1909.

After Judge Shields passed away, Mrs.Shields made sure that a bequest from theirestate would create the Shields Oak Grovealong with this garden and gazebo.

The formal white flower garden wasplanted in 1976 at the suggestion of Mrs.Shields’ friends, Ruth Risdon Storer andAlyce Jewett.

UCDAVIS

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WELCOME TO THE

Carolee ShieldsWhite Flower Gardenand Gazebo


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In the evening, many of the flowers in this garden havea stronger scent that attracts night-pollinating moths.

Historically, white flower gardens were used by aristocrats of ancient India,and later by English socialites, for outdoor parties before air conditioningwas invented. In order to escape summer heat, parties were held in theevening. White flowers were ideal because they shine in the light of themoon.

It provides a wonderful destination forArboretum visitors

It provides food sources for night-pollinating insects

This garden and gazebo are a beautiful setting for weddings and receptions.For reservations, call Campus Events and Visitor Services (530) 752-2675.

WHY IS THERE A

IN THE ARBORETUM

Carolee Shields (far left), seated behind Judge Shields, hostsone of the first Picnic Day events in the area that eventuallybecame the Arboretum.

White garland ginger(Hedychium coronarium)from India is a popular moongarden flower because of itstropical fragrance.

The sphinx moth is attracted to white flowers bytheir sweet fragrance and visibility at night. As themoth feeds on nectar, it pollinates the flowers.Smerinthus cerisyi (left), and Hyles lineata (right), bothin the Sphingidae family.

Any white-flowering plant issuitable for a moon garden.Some of these scented favoritesare found in this garden.

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Clockwise from top: summerdaphne (Daphne x transcaucasica),southern magnolia (Magnoliagrandiflora), Argentine rain lily(Zephyranthes candida), and callalily (Zantedeschia aethiopica).

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UC

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The Valley-Wise Garden is watered only once every two weeks for seven months of the year (April-October). Winter rains take care of the rest.

Valley-Wise Garden

Water during the cool morning hours toreduce water loss through evaporation.

NO. The secret to a healthy garden iswatering deeply and infrequently. Deep watering means wetting a plant’s entire root zone.

Constantly wet soils can kill many plants, so allow soil to dry before you water again.

It is best to water deeply and infrequently. Deep watering means

wetting a plant’s entire root zone. • The drought-tolerant plants in the Valley-Wise Garden get

deep watering once every two weeks• The water loving plants in the nearby White Flower Garden

and Gazebo get deep watering once a week

• Learning to use your irrigation controller• Turning off your watering system during the

rainy winter season• Adjusting irrigation heads to avoid watering

sidewalks and pathways• Using water-efficient spray heads that release

less water over time• Using mulch to reduce water loss

New plantings need more water untiltheir roots have started to grow into thesurrounding soil. Plant in the fall and let

the winter rains water for you.

Your plants need enough waterto wet their entire root zone.

Lawn Perennials and shrubs Trees

Even drought-tolerant plants may need daily water if you plant in the spring or summer.

20’

3’

4”12-18” 24”+

Scale: 3/16”=1’

Plants need the most water during thelong, hot days of summer. Turn yoursprinklers OFF in the winter; rains

provide plenty of water.

Check how deep the water is getting into soilby using a shovel to gently expose the soilwithout disturbing plants.

6”Typical root zone depths

Make your irrigation system more water-wise by:

Did you know? • Most California gardens are given 40%

more water than they need

• Too much watering is the major cause of plant death in many home gardens



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How much water do my plants need?

How much should I water in different

seasons?

How much should I water my

new plantings?

How often should Iwater my plants?

How can I make my irrigation system more

water-wise?

The Valley-Wise Garden is watered only once every two weeks for seven months of the year (April-October). Winter rains take care of the rest.

Do I need to water everyday?

What time of day is best for watering?

Valley-Wise Garden

Did you know? • Most California gardens are given 40%

more water than they need

• Too much watering is the major cause of plant death in many home gardens



UCDAVIS

RBORETUMRuth Risdon Storer Garden–A Valley-Wise Garden

Wayne Roderick seaside daisyErigeron ‘Wayne Roderick’

We eat aphids!M

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Buddy, or companion, plants like seaside daisyand goldenrod attract adult beneficial insects,adding beauty and function to your garden.

Syrphid fly adults feedon the nectar and pollenof companion plants.Growing these plants ina location close to rosesencourages beneficialinsects to lay their eggsnearby. Larvae thenhatch and can feed onaphids and other rosepest insects.

California goldenrodSolidago californica


PROVIDE BENEFICIAL INSECTS

FOR

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We eat aphids!

PROVIDE BENEFICIAL INSECTS

FOR

Buddy, or companion, plants like deergrassand yarrow provide shelter for beneficialladybird beetles.

Ladybird beetles staysafe by taking cover inthese companion plants.Growing these plants ina location close to rosesprovides the beneficialinsects with theirfavorite foods: rose pestssuch as aphids, scales,mites, and caterpillars.

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RBORETUMRuth Risdon Storer Garden–A Valley-Wise Garden


Mexican DeergrassMuhlenbergia dubia

Common Yarrow and its hybridsAchillea ‘Creamy’

ruth risdon storer garden– valley- a · pdf filethe formal white flower garden was ......

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